Business Outside The Box – Privacy Policy
Effective Date: July 8, 2025

1. Who We Are

Business Outside The Box LLC (“BOTB,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) operates https://www.businessoutsidethebox.com as well as affiliated platforms such as BastropConnect.com and Good Neighbors of Texas (GoodNeighborsOfTexas.com). This Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our websites, join our mailing or SMS lists, or interact with us in any other way.

2. Scope

This Policy covers information we process about:

  • Visitors to our websites and landing pages
  • Customers and prospective customers who inquire about or purchase our services
  • Subscribers to our newsletters, podcasts, and SMS updates
  • Contest participants (e.g., Best of Bastrop County)

3. Information We Collect

Information we collect about you

In General. We may collect personal information that can identify you such as your name and email address and other information that does not identify you. When you provide personal information through our website, the information may be sent to servers located in the United States and other countries around the world.

  • Information you provide.We may collect and store any personal information you enter on our website or provide to us in some other manner. This includes identifying information, such as your name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number, and in addition, for Professionals, your credit card number and other personally identifiable information. We also may request information about your interests and activities, your gender and age, and other demographic information
  • Information from other sources.We may also periodically obtain both personal and non-personal information about you from other business partners, contractors and other third parties. Examples of information that we may receive include (but are not limited to): updated delivery and address information, purchase history, and additional demographic information.
  • Information about others.We may also collect and store personal information about other people that you provide to us. If you use our website to send others (friends, relatives, colleagues, etc.) information that may interest them through our system, we may store your personal information, and the personal information of each such recipient


Use of cookies and other technologies to collect information. We use various technologies to collect information from your computer and about your activities on our site.

  • Information collected automatically.We automatically collect information from your browser when you visit our website. This information includes your IP address, your browser type and language, access times, the content of any undeleted cookies that your browser previously accepted from us (see "Cookies" below), and the referring website address.
  • Cookies.When you visit our website, we may assign your computer one or more cookies to facilitate access to our site and to personalize your online experience. Through the use of a cookie, we also may automatically collect information about your online activity on our site, such as the web pages you visit, the links you click, and the searches you conduct on our site. Most browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies. If you choose to decline cookies, please note that you may not be able to sign in or use some of the interactive features offered on our website.
  • Other Technologies.We may use standard Internet technology, such as web beacons and other similar technologies, to track your use of our site. We also may include web beacons in promotional [or other] e-mail messages or newsletters to determine whether messages have been opened and acted upon. The information we obtain in this manner enables us to customize the services we offer our website visitors to deliver targeted advertisements and to measure the overall effectiveness of our online advertising, content, programming or other activities.
  • Information collected by third-parties.We may allow third-parties, including (but not limited to) our authorized service providers, advertising companies, and ad networks, to display advertisements on our site. These companies may use tracking technologies, such as cookies, to collect information about users who view or interact with their advertisements. Our website does not provide any personal information to these third parties. This information allows them to deliver targeted advertisements and gauge their effectiveness. Some of these third-party advertising companies may be advertising networks that are members of the Network Advertising Initiative, which offers a single location to opt out of ad targeting from member companies (www.networkadvertising.org).

4. How We Use Your Information

  • Service delivery & account management – create profiles, publish listings, process payments, and provide customer support.
  • Marketing & community updates – email/SMS alerts about new features, events, promotions, or content you’ve opted into.
  • Contest administration – manage nominations, voting, winner notifications, and related publicity.
  • Analytics & site improvement – measure traffic, diagnose problems, and enhance user experience.
  • Legal & compliance – prevent fraud, comply with laws, enforce our Terms of Service, and protect our rights or others’.

SMS Communications
If you opt in, we’ll send brief, time-sensitive texts (e.g., nomination reminders, listing confirmations). Each message includes “Reply STOP to opt out.” Standard messaging rates may apply.

5. Legal Bases (for EEA/UK visitors)

We process personal data only when we have a lawful ground, including:

  • Contractual necessity – to deliver the services you request.
  • Legitimate interests – to promote our services, improve the site, and secure our systems, balanced against your privacy rights.
  • Consent – for optional email/SMS marketing.
  • Legal obligation – where laws require record-keeping or disclosures.

6. Sharing & Disclosure

We never sell your personal data. We share it only:

  • Service providers – PCI-compliant payment processors, email/SMS platforms, web-hosting partners, analytics vendors—solely to perform services on our behalf.
  • Contest partners – limited data (e.g., business name) necessary to publish ballots or winner lists.
  • Legal & safety – when required by law, court order, or to protect rights, safety, and property.
  • Business transfers – if we merge, acquire, or sell assets; your data will remain protected under this Policy or a successor policy with similar protections.

7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use first- and third-party cookies, pixels, and similar tools to:

  • Keep you logged in and remember preferences
  • Measure site traffic and campaign performance (e.g., Google Analytics)
  • Personalize content or ads (where applicable)
  • Manage preferences via your browser settings or our on-site cookie banner. Disabling cookies may affect site functionality.

8. Data Retention

We store personal information only as long as necessary:

  • Account & billing records – 7 years (to satisfy tax/audit obligations)
  • Marketing lists – until you unsubscribe or we detect inactivity (24 months)
  • Contest data – duration of the contest plus 12 months for auditing
  • Analytics logs – up to 26 months (aggregated thereafter)

9. Security Measures

We employ HTTPS encryption, access-controlled databases, regular software patching, and industry-standard security practices. No method is 100 % secure, but we continuously monitor and improve our safeguards.

10. Your Choices & Rights

Jurisdiction Your Rights World wide opt-out of marketing (unsubscribe/STOP), refuse cookies via browser California (CCPA/CPRA) know, access, delete, correct, or opt out of “sharing” for cross-context ads EEA/UK (GDPR) access, rectify, erase, restrict, object, data portability, withdraw consent, lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority

Request any action by emailing privacy@businessoutsidethebox.com or writing to the address below. We may verify identity before complying.

11. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

12. International Transfers

We are a U.S. company. When you use our sites from outside the U.S., your data may be transferred to—and processed in—the United States, which may have different data-protection laws than your country. We rely on standard contractual clauses or other approved safeguards when required.

13. Third-Party Links

Our sites contain links to external websites (e.g., partner offers, social media). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their policies before providing personal information.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy periodically. Material changes will be highlighted on this page or via email/SMS if appropriate. Continued use of our services after changes signifies acceptance.

15. Contact Us

Business Outside The Box, Inc.
111 N. Hasler Blvd, Suite 209
Bastrop, TX 78602 USA
📧 privacy@businessoutsidethebox.com
📞 (512)277-3227